Must Have Gifts for the Open Water Swimmer
Our best suggestions for your own gear and as gifts for the open water swimmers in your life.
Date: December 7, 2024
Like all open water swimmers, OpenWaterLog is always on the lookout for the open water swimming gear that makes the most of our own time in the water. These finds also are our suggestions for your own gear and as gifts for the open water swimmers in your life.
1. A super insulated drink bottle.
The Travel Kuppe Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Cycling Sports Water Bottle is in constant use for our own hot or cold drinks.
This double wall vacuum insulated water bottle is designed to fit in a bike bottle cage, which is how it’s become a staple for our self-contained bike trips to the water. It includes both a straw (best for iced drinks in hot conditions) and a sip lid for hot drinks in cold conditions; both contain the fluid incredibly well, so it fits in a swim buoy if your bike bottle holder isn’t in a secure place during the swim. It’s the perfect answer to a need for a quick warm-up with hot tea after exiting icy water. But our use of this has more often been for keeping cold drinks very cold: cool water with a half dozen ice cubes would stay chilled for 24 hours, ice cubes intact, in the heat of summer. But you’ll drink it before then.
2. Changing Robe
There are plush full-featured options for this. The Hiturbo Warm Waterproof Swim Parka is an oversized hooded sherpa lined changing robe and swimming coat. It’s warm enough not only for changing but for travel to and from a cold water swim or plunge.
But our preferred gear supports the minimalist option that makes it easier to carry all needed gear needed in a backpack to and from the swim, and in the open water swim buoy during the swim. Here are two options for the self-contained open water swimmer:
The best all-purpose option is the Catalonia Surf Poncho Changing Towel Robe
This functions both as a soft, absorbent, and quick drying towel and a changing robe with full coverage to permit changing out of wet swimwear and providing a little warmth in the process. Minimal in size, folds small enough to fit in the backpack and open water swim buoy for the completely self contained (biking, running, public transit to the water) open water swimmer.
The thoroughly minimal option is the Flow Hydro Sport Towel
It’s a big towel: big enough (up to 72″ x 40″/ 183 x 102cm) to function as a changing robe for even tall swimmers who can do without the more modest coverage of a poncho or robe format and want minimal packing size. Quick drying, inexpensive, and folds small enough to fit in the backpack and open water swim buoy for the completely self contained (biking, running, public transit to the water) open water swimmer. There’s a version with a hood.
3. A changing mat
Ho Stevie! Durable Wetsuit Changing Mat/Waterproof Dry-Bag After immersing in the elements during your swim or plunge, put some distance between the outdoors and your gear (wetsuit, swimwear) once out of the water. Changing mat keeps dirt, sand and debris out of the way while removing wetsuit and or swimwear to keep them fresh for the next time out. It doubles as a dry bag for hauling wet gear.